Chapter 5. Integrating with the desktop
This chapter covers
- Running Silverlight applications out of the browser
- Using the elevated trust mode
- Lighting up on Windows with COM automation
- Displaying the notification toast
- Controlling the out-of-browser window
- Running in full screen
- Storing and retrieving local information using isolated storage
Silverlight started as an in-browser technology, primarily used for media and simple games. It later evolved into a more capable business technology and added some useful but basic desktop integration with additions such as isolated storage and the OpenFileDialog. With version 3, Silverlight gained the ability to run outside of the browser as a sandboxed desktop application. Starting with Silverlight 4, the sandbox has been expanded and a whole new wave of desktop-integration capabilities included.
Elevated trust mode is one of the most exciting things to happen to out-of-browser applications. Now we have access to more local files and resources, fewer confirmation prompts, and a better integrated experience. On Windows, we also have all the power provided by COM automation. We get all this as the result of a single setting and a user confirmation dialog; no messing around with browser settings or code access security.